Curley attacks Lennie, Lennie crushes Curley's hand

Curley enters the bunkhouse looking for his wife and, already angry, targets Lennie who is smiling while thinking about the farm. Curley begins punching Lennie in the face while Lennie cries and retreats, too frightened to defend himself. George finally shouts "Get him, Lennie!" and Lennie catches Curley's fist mid-swing, crushing the bones in his hand until George has to slap Lennie repeatedly to make him let go. Slim forces Curley to claim his hand was caught in a machine to avoid firing Lennie.

The fight demonstrates Lennie's immense physical strength and his inability to control it once activated, establishing the danger he poses despite his gentle nature. Curley's humiliation creates a vengeful enemy who will later lead the lynch mob. Slim's protection of Lennie shows his authority on the ranch but also reveals that even he cannot shield Lennie indefinitely from the consequences of his strength.